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mit. We are aware, there may be many important traits in this man's character with which we are yet unacquainted; but, judging from the information we now possess, we think the censures which have been cast upon him at home and abroad, have not been deserved, and that posterity, that impartial tribunal to whose decision the characters of all must eventually be referred, will do him better justice.

With feelings of unmingled pleasure we read, that one of the first proclamations issued by General San Martin after entering Lima, declared the freedom of every person born after the 15th of July, 1821, from which period the independence of that country is dated. If the Peruvians have virtue enough to adhere to the principle thus laid down at the very beginning of their national existence, however much we, as a nation, may be in advance of them in other points, they will be relieved from the

them. But it should be remembered that
the persons upon whom their vengeance has
fallen were not the authors of these wrongs;
and that, to put the most favourable con-
struction upon their measures, they are, in
the words of our author, “suddenly visit-
ing the accumulated errors of three cen-
turies upon the heads of the last, and per-
haps the least offending generation."
We cannot close this article better than
by summing up our views on the subject in
another short extract from the pages be-
fore us.

nothing for this book to do, but to remind him of some of the most obvious and valuable principles, such as he must have remembered, if he remembered any part of these sciences.

Mr Russell seems to claim something of originality in his design of making composition a distinct branch of education. We agree with him in the opinion, that too little attention is devoted to it in our higher schools; but where it is studied at all,—and most of these schools make it a study,-it is made distinct from every thing but its own essentials. Its rules are those of grammar and rhetoric, and, of course, it cannot be separated from these branches. All the meaning that is worth deriving from his view of this subject, is, that in our schools the study of these sciences is not made sufficiently practical. More attention should be paid to the application of the principles to their common uses. This is plain enough, and

miseries of a slave population, long before under review at the same moment, are placed seve- all acknowledge it. The point is, to give

we can hope for this blessing.

There has seldom perhaps, existed in the world a more interesting scene than is now passing in South America, or one in which human character, in all its modifications, has received so remarkable a stimulus to untried action; where the field is so unbounded, and the actors in it so numerous; where every variety of moral and physical circumstance is so fully subjected to actual trial; or where so great a number of states living under different climates, and possessed of different soils, are brought rally and collectively in similar situations, and are forced to act and think for themselves, for the first All political revolutions have their dark time; where old feelings, habits, laws, and prejudias well as their bright side. There are ces, are jumbled along with new institutions, new those that weep as well as those that re-knowledge, and new customs, and new principles, joice. In the enthusiasm which the occa-sand unthought of causes, may direct; amidst conall left free to produce what chance, and a thou sion commonly produces, the former class flicting interests and passions of all kinds, let loose may be for a time overlooked; and those to drift along the face of society. who remain at a distance may, if they will, shut their eyes, and not see the sufferers; but the calm and unprejudiced observer who is on the spot, must look upon the grieving as well as the rejoicing; and, if faithful in discharging the trust which he has assumed, he must report it as he finds it. The most conspicuous sufferers in these revolutions have been the resident Spaniards; the mer

cantile transactions of those countries were formerly conducted almost exclusively by this class; they had the countenance and protection of the Spanish government; the system of monopoly which excluded the native South Americans from participating in the profits of trade, had made these people rich; and with-perhaps from-these advantages, they were also more intelligent and better informed. The severity with which these residents have been treated in all the South American States may be politically justifiable. They had been taught by education and custom to look upon those born in the country as a race beneath them; and such is the pride of the Spanish character, that there could be little probability that they would for a long time to come. willingly submit to be citizens of the new governments, and place themselves on a level with those whom they had been long accustomed to despise. But, with this exception, Capt. Hall bears testimony to the general goodness of their character, and many of them are represented by him as men of real worth. The estates of most of these have been confiscated, and they remain there sunk in poverty, or have been compelled in this destitute condition to quit the country. The promoters of these measures doubtless reconcile them to their consciences in the consideration, that most of this wealth had been accumulated under a system of wrong and oppression towards

us a book, in which the principles are arranged analytically, and which will thus render their application easy. This is precisely what Mr Russell has not done.

The first part of his work contains "A Review of the Principles of Orthography, Punctuation, and Rhetoric,-as applied to If the remarks of an intelligent and in- the Practice of Composition." In the genuous writer, on a people and a country, "Remarks on the Principles of Orthograperhaps, at this moment, the most interest-phy, observed in the most accurate recent ing in the world, can have any attraction publications," we find rules for many deviafor our readers, this book certainly pre- tions from what we regard as the custom of sents strong claims to their notice.

A Grammar of Composition, including a
Practical Review of the Principles of
Rhetoric, a Series of Exercises in Rheto-
rical Analysis, and six Introductory
Courses of Composition. New Haven.
1823. 12mo. pp. 150.

66

the best writers. Who are the authors that adopt his mode of spelling “traveler,” worshiper," "civilise," "enroll," "counseler," and "skillful." There are many other examples of almost equally rare orthography, sanctioned on the authority of what he is pleased to call "the most accurate recent publications." We must confess that we are not acquainted with these publications."

The rules for punctuation are not accompanied by any examples for illustration, and, hence, many of them are totally unintelligible to all who need such instruction. The 14th Rule is as follows:

THE author of this book is Mr Russell,-"
the same who lately pleased us with a Latin
Grammar. It will not appear surprising if
he should be found incapable of writing two
good school books: few men can write one.
We must, however, acknowledge, that with
the favourable opinion which we had formed
of his talents and fidelity, it was difficult to
satisfy us that this is a work of little merit;
but this conclusion has been forced upon us,
and we shall justify it by plain criticism.

The Preface informs us, that

The course of instructions contained in this work, is designed to be of service to four classes of youth; those who are engaged in the higher branches of education, at academies; those who are preparing for college, by private study; and those who have entered on their college studies, without having previously devoted to this branch as much time as they afterwards find it requires. The plan may also be found useful in completing the English department of the education of young ladies.

It is not obvious, that either of these classes will find the work very useful. In order to understand it at all, it is necessary to have previously acquired a pretty thorough knowledge of grammar and rhetoric, as taught in the common elementary works. Few scholars obtain this, till late in college life; and when acquired, it leaves

When a preposition precedes the relative, a comma is inserted, if the preposition and the words which follow it are used to explain the antecedent; its dependent words form but one idea with the relbut no comma takes place, when the preposition and

alive.

Where does the author intend that the comma shonld be inserted? The 21st Rule stands thus:

A remarkable expression or short observation, in

the form of a quotation, if short, and closely connected, is separated from the context by a comma.

Are not all "short" observations" short?" The second Rule for the colon is not very definite; but, if we understand its meaning, it would authorize the insertion of that point twice in the sentence that we are writing, and in all of similar construction.

This point is used after a member of a sentence, whether simple or complex, which forms complete sense, but does not excite expectation of what follows.

The third Rule is still worse; and the fourth, though frequently observed by oth

When a conjunction is understood.
Before an example, a quotation, or a speech, is

introduced.

er writers, is totally disregarded by Mring with themes selected by the pupil | Swift and his works are forgotten, the betRussell himself. They read as follows: himself, and treated according to his own ter for mankind. In justice to our author, judgment. The method here prescribed of or rather compiler, we should add, that the advancing from more to less dependence letter selected for this work, standing by upon guides, may be useful; but it might itself, contains little which can lessen the have been stated in one page,-in which usefulness of the good advice it offers. case, we might, perhaps, have been enabled There is one paragraph which may amuse to say, that there was one truly valuable our readers; it will give them some idea of page in the book. the vast improvement which has taken place in the education of the fairer sex, within a few years. Let it be remembered that Swift, who was intimate in the best society, wrote this letter to a young lady of distinguished family and fortune.

We must say of his Rules generally, that they are remarkably obscure. So far as we can understand them, they are quite inferiour to those of Walker and Murray; and after a scholar has become familiar with these elementary works, it is not ne

cessary to buy new books to repeat the The Ladies' Companion; containing, First, Politeness of Manners and Behaviour, from the French of the Abbe de Bellegarde; Second, Fenelon on Education; Third, Miss More's Essays; Fourth, Dean Swift's Letter to a Young Lady newly married; Fifth, Moore's Fables for the Female Sex. Carefully selected and revised by a Lady in the County of Worcester, Mass. Worcester. 1824. 12mo. pp. 156.

same lessons. If Mr Russell had made his work complete in itself, we should have expected a repetition of many of the common rules found in others; but, as the case stands, he has repeated them, or made worse substitutes, with no advantage whatever, but to make the scholar buy his book, instead of referring to one already purchas ed, long used, and made familiar. We are confident that it will require more time of every instructer who introduces this book, to explain its rules and principles, than it would to refer the pupil to those already studied, and make them intelligible.

The Review of Rhetoric contains some of the principles of this science, expressed in a concise manner, and sufficiently intelligible to those who have seen them well illustrated in larger works. The common rhetorical figures are explained, and rules are given for using them. But we are obliged here to repeat our objection, that the work is incomplete, and presents nothing in a more advantageous or practical light, than that with which the scholar is already familiar, or may be made familiar by referring to his old, elementary book.

THE title-page, copied at the head of this notice, is a sufficient table of contents of the book. The first selection, from the French of the Abbe de Bellegarde, is none too well translated, and though it may help a young lady to behave well, it can hardly be of use in teaching her good English. We may remark, in passing, that although these extracts are taken from a work, of which the general subject is, we believe, Politeness of Manners, the parts selected relate exclusively to moderation in our desires and disinterestedness in our conduct, and of course refer to politeness, only so far as that is the natural expression of all excellence of character. Fenelon's treatise on the Education of a Daughter, and Miss Part II. treats of Analysis and Criticism, More's Essays, are standard works, and it and applies the common principles of gram- would be idle to undertake to discuss their mar and rhetoric to ten short lines from merits very particularly. The selections Addison. By this specimen of the right from them, particularly from Fenelon, are mode of analyzing and criticising, the au-judiciously made. We rather regret to see thor expects to instruct those who have Swift brought into so close a connexion studied Murray, Blair, Walker, and Camp-with the Archbishop of Cambria. A lady bell, and put them in a fair way to become should hardly qualify herself to select the good critics. To speak honestly and plain- best passages from the writings of the forly of this, it is totally useless, and discov-mer; but it may be, and we hope is the case, ers a degree of short-sighted self-compla- that the fair compiler of this little volume cency, which renders it intolerable. Those who have faithfully studied authors like those above mentioned, are not so ignorant as to need these instructions; and such only can understand them. Those who have studied these works to no purpose, will do well to study them again, and not content themselves with this trifling example of Analysis and Criticism.

It is a little hard, that not one gentleman's daughter in a thousand, should be brought to read or understand her own natural tongue, or to be a judge of the easiest works that are written in it; as any one may find, who can have the patience to play or novel, where the least word out of the comhear them, when they are disposed to mangle a

mon road is sure to disconcert them. It is no wonder, when they are not so much as taught to spell in their childhood, nor can ever attain to it in their whole lives. I advise you, therefore, to read aloud more or less, every day, to your husband, if he will permit you, or to any other friend (but not a female one) who is able to set you right; and as for spelling, you may compass it in time, by making collections from the books you read.

The character and size of this book con

fine its pretensions within very narrow limits. The compiler probably did not aim at very extensive usefulness; but the work she has given to the public, can hardly do harm to any, and to some may be interesting and useful.

A Poem on the Restoration of Learning in the East; which obtained Mr Buchanan's Prize. By Charles Grant, Esq. M. A. Fellow of Magdalen College. Georgetown, D. C. 1824. 18mo. pp. 60. THE name of the Reverend Claudius Buchanan is doubtless known to many of our readers, by his labours in India, and his success in illustrating the foul mysteries and merciless rites of the superstitions of that country. To this work, the best efforts of his life were devoted; and, probably with the hope of urging others to lafound the passages she thought it wise to bour in a cause which he deemed so impormake use of, not in their original location, tant and so holy, he gave to the University amid all sorts of filth, but culled and made of Cambridge, in 1804-having formerly ready for her hand. We have no disposi- been a member of Queen's College-the tion to deny the strong sense, and acute, sum of two hundred and ten pounds; which far-reaching sagacity of Swift, or to under- he ordered to be divided into prizes for the value the simplicity and directness of his following productions, viz. one hundred transparent style; but if modesty and de- pounds for an English Prose Dissertation cency be any thing more than empty"On the best means of civilizing the subPart III. commences at the 66th page, names,-if obscenity be thought disgusting, and occupies almost half of the book. It and foul thoughts and language are considconsists of a variety of quotations, embrac-ered, to say no more, provocatives to sin, ing narrative, descriptive, and didactic if it be thought desirable to protect purity pieces. It is designed that the scholar should and innocence from stain and from temptaread one of these pieces, and then close his tion, from ideas and feelings which bring book and write one like it. The reading with them degradation if not danger;-and, books in our common schools, furnish ex-perhaps, more than all, if it is thought inamples of these several species of writing, jurious to the tenderness or correctness of equally adapted to this purpose. the moral sense, to feel habitually any measure of respect for one, the tenor of whose life bears unvarying testimony to the fact of his being a heartless, selfish villain, then may we well say, the sooner

The "Six Introductory Courses of Composition," consist of directions for exercises, commencing with a single paragraph slightly varied from the author's, and end

jects of the British empire in India, and of diffusing the light of the Christian religion throughout the Eastern World;"-sixty pounds for an English Poem "On the Restoration of Learning in the East;"-twenty-five pounds for a Latin Poem "On the College at Bengal ;"-and the same sum for a Greek Ode, of which the subject should be, "Let there be light." Mr Grant,-whose many titles may be read above,-wrote for the second of these prizes, and won it by the poem now published. We have read many things in its praise, in some English journals; and it is

now given to the American public, in order that it may "touch the hearts of our countrymen, and inspire them with a disposition to contribute more liberally to the cause of Christianity in the East."

Without entering into any discussion respecting the merits or character of the purpose, thus stated by the American editor, we would express our decided opinion, that it will be very little aided by the publication of this poem. It contains not much of either poetry or eloquence; any one, already convinced and very ready to be pleased, might find it very agreeable; but he, whose opinions and feelings were opposed to the cause for which Mr Grant is an advocate, would hardly experience much change in his views or his dispositions from the perusal of the poem.

The leading spirits of the age are seldom roused to labour by these public prizes; there are exceptions to this rule, but they do not occur very frequently. We have read many prize poems, and they are generally, —as this is,—just such poetry as might be expected from any resolute rhymester of respectable talents, whose mind had received systematic cultivation, whose memory was enriched, and whose taste was ripened by an acquaintance with the best poetry of past ages, and whose industry insured that degree of success which the nature and strength of his powers would permit. The poem now under notice has no very great faults, excepting the greatest: it is the work of a scholar, but not of a poet. Per

Skill'd to deceive, and patient to beguile
With sleepless efforts of unwearied toil,
His youth he shrouds in consecrated bowers,
Where prayer and penance lead the hermit hours;
Yet not to him those bowers their sweets impart,
The mind compos'd, smooth brow, and spotless

heart:

No sun-bright visions with new hues adorn
Eve's purple cloud, or dewy beams of morn;
But Fancy wakes for him more grim delights,
War's imag'd pomp, and Murder's savage rites,
And, like the Genius of some nightly spell,
Peoples with shapes accurs'd the wizard cell:
Keen Hate, Revenge, Suspicion's arrowy glare,
And all the blood-stain'd joys of Guilt are there;
Thus, by fell visions rous'd, th' usurper springs
Fierce from his lair, to lap the blood of kings.

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Ah! at the tyrant's frown those beauties die ;
Fled is the smile, and sunk the speaking eye:
Nor harp nor carol-warbles through the glade,
But the steel'd savage revels in thy woes,
Nor pensive love-notes sooth the plane-tree shade;
And round his temples twines thy brightest rose.
There is something very like affectation
in the frequent introduction of Hindoo
words, when English words would have
done as well. Thus we have "chawla,"
which means rice, and nothing else; and on
the 29th page, in the line

the established English name for this plant,
And thy own pedma, roseate flower of light,
lotos, would have made just as good rhythm,
and have prevented the appearance of some
pedantry. We learn the meaning of these
words from the author's notes. On the
24th page, in the line

accordingly, wherever it has prevailed, yielded very slowly before the evidence of enlightened observation. There are few, however, now, who have much fear of the contagion of dysentery or consumption. The believers in that of yellow fever are more numerous, though they are gradually diminishing. Typhus fever maintains its character rather better, and plague perhaps best of all; of all, we mean, which are questionable. This subject has been better understood and more rationally treated since the distinction, which has been recognised between contagion and infection, which is an exceedingly important one, and may be understood by the definition of these two terms as given by Dr Smith.

mal secretion, possessing the power of inducing Contagion is a poison, generated by morbid anilike morbid action in healthy bodies, whereby it is reproduced and indefinitely multiplied.

a

Infection is a febrific agent, produced by the decomposition of animal and vegetable substances.

If

The force and practical value of this Then thought Gautami, India's peerless boast, distinction may be thus illustrated. the Hindoo name, which Sir W. Jones, who yellow fever be a contagious disease, the is a pretty good authority in such matters, attendants must leave the patient, or risk a spells Gotama, with the accent on the first participation in the calamity; if it be an syllable, is subjected to considerable change, infectious one, they need only leave the un"to render the word more agreeable to healthy district and carry the sufferer with English ears." If it was necessary to in-them, an operation not very difficult; since troduce this sage at all, it was at least the pestilential locality is usually very cirequally necessary to introduce him by his cumscribed. true name.

рох,

The

Our author divides his first order into two genera, " contagion communicable only by contact," including as species that of haps the best passages in it are the follow-Elements of the Etiology and Philosophy of the itch, hydrophobia, and a few others; ing. The first is about Aurungzebe; the Epidemics. In two Parts. By Joseph and "contagion communicable both by Mather Smith, M. D. Fellow of the Col-contact and by the atmosphere," of which second describes the vale of Cashmere. lege of Physicians and Surgeons of the the species are small-pox, measles, chickenUniversity of the State of New York; &c. &c. New York. 1824. 8vo. pp. 223. Some objections might be made to this classcarlet fever, and hooping-cough, DR SMITH proposes in this work to do sification, but these would be more approsomething towards supplying the deficien- priate in a journal purely medical. cy in the accounts of epidemics, by arrang- genera of Infection are koino-miasma, from ing their causes in systematic order, and to koinos, common or public. This is "the deduce from an examination of the nature effluvia exhaled from the public filth of and modus operandi of these causes, the cities, and from the soil of marshes and laws which govern their rise, prevalence, champaign countries. It also properly inand decline, and the manner in which they cludes the noxious emanations from animal modify and supersede each other. The and vegetable substances which are accuIntroduction enumerates three orders of mulated and allowed to putrefy in cellars, causes which he supposes to be concerned storehouses, and the holds of ships." Idioin the production of epidemics; they are, miasma, from idios, personal, which is contagion, infection, and atmospheric con- " produced from the matter of perspiration stitution, or as he denominates it, Meteora- and the other excretions of the human tion. It is principally devoted to the con- body, accumulated in small and unventisideration of the notion of the contagious-lated places, and acted upon by heat;" and ness of certain diseases, which is one, that lastly, idio-koino miasma, a combination of is very easily disseminated among man- both. These genera are again divided inkind, while it is eradicated with the utmost to sundry species, with Greek names, of difficulty. Contagion is an intangible foe, and, like demons or spectres, has its effect upon the imagination of many, whose reason would deny its existence. The circumstances, moreover, of many wide-spreading and fatal diseases are such as favour the doctrine of contagion in the minds of those who are not well disciplined in medical logic; and during the prevalence of such diseases the side of the contagionist is generally, as far as his personal interest is concerned, the safest. This belief has

Go, count thy spoils, thy trophies grim rehearse,
Three brothers murder'd, and a father's curse:
Go, rear the musnud o'er the gasping mound
Of trampled hosts, while India weeps around:
On Hindoo shrines thy bigot fury pour,
And quench the darts of sharp Remorse in gore.
"Tis done. Lo, Persecution lights from far
Her streaming fires, and terrors worse than war!
Where mystic hymnings aw'd the midnight air,
Strange sounds, that breathe or that inflict despair,
Are heard. The despot, thron'd in blood, presides
O'er havoc's work, and all the ruin guides.

Ah, beauteous Cashmere, love's enchanting vale!
What new Abdallah shall thy woes bewail?
In vain thy snowy mountains, swelling round,
For Peace alone would guard the holy ground:
Oh, once for thee the rosy-finger'd Hours
Wove wreaths of joy in Pleasure's echoing bowers;
Once round thy limpid stream and scented grove,
The haunts of Fancy, Freedom lov'd to rove;
And, moulded by the hand of young Desire,

which our readers will readily excuse the omission. The distinction of species is founded on the comparative intensity of the poisonous effluvia at different times and in different situations. The koino-miasma, according to its virulence, produces intermittent, bilious, or yellow fever, and as Dr Smith supposes, the plague. The idio-miasma is the remote cause of typhus, and the third genus that of those anomalous and compound diseases, about which the faculty have been occasionally so much divided;

nate.

courts, and other retreats sheltered from the winds.

as for instance the fever which prevail- | attempt it, yet the disease in such cases pon the first, considering its connexion ed in New York in 1820. Such diseases spreads no further, and ceases with the with the origin and progress of epidemics, will incline either to yellow or typhus, in cessation of the communication. Instances as a very obscure subject, which has baffled proportion as the common or personal mi- of this sort have been frequent. The case the endeavours of the most industrious obasma prevails. Thus in tolerably well ven- of the Ten Brothers, in the fall of 1819, servers. The second genus is discussed at tilated situations the symptoms will be will be remembered by our Boston readers greater length, and here we think Dr Smith those of the former; while in the dirty and as one of these. When cases of this sort has fallen into the common error of ingencrowded dwellings of the poor, the form of happen in a port just before, or coincident ious men-that of allowing imagination to disease will be a horrible anomaly, in which with, the commencement of an indigenous supply the deficiences of observation. Rethe typhoid appearances will soon predomi- epidemic, they seem to afford strong sup- specting these supposed insensible qualities We cannot, in a work of this kind, port to the defenders of the doctrine of con- of the atmosphere, we have to inquire first, follow Dr Smith through the various details tagion; but taken in connexion with what is there any proof of their existence? and and ingenious illustrations of this part of we have already observed, it will be per- second; can any thing be added to the sum his subject; we confine our remarks to two ceived that they admit of an explanation, of our knowledge by admitting it? With or three points; the first is the manner in without supposing the existence of specific respect to the first question, it is adwhich the koino-miasma diffuses itself-this contagion. We have intimated that the mitted that we have no evidence, either is so interesting that it deserves to be giv-believers in the contagiousness of typhus from our senses, or any instrument or open in our author's own words. were still numerous; nor is this remarka- eration hitherto adopted, that there are The grounds from which the miasm is exhaled, ble, when we consider how nearly the opin- any such qualities; their existence is inare usually of small extent, compared with the area ions of both parties in relation to this ques-ferred from the circumstances of certain over which it eventually spreads. At first, the tion approach each other. Dr Smith, in epidemics-that is, these circumstances, poison is probably generated in a very minute behalf of the anti-contagionists, maintains or effects, must have some cause, and as quantity, perhaps not enough to occasion disease that the perspiration and other excretions no known circumstance, or antecedent, even in those who are the most susceptible to its of persons labouring under severe febrile can be produced, Dr S., as others have done noxious influence. But the quantity progressively increases, and shortly becomes sufficiently accumu- diseases, are extremely liable to become before him, assumes that this antecedent is lated at and about its source to produce the few putrid, and, of course, to produce what he an insensible quality of the atmosphere; an cases of fever which form the commencement of terms idio-miasma, which produces typhus assumption which we consider entirely graan epidemic. As the exhalation multiplies, it fever. Thus,an attendant on a patient ill with tuitous. And what are we to gain by inspreads to the adjoining streets, producing additional cases. At this period, however, the continu-yellow-fever in circumstances where he is terposing this new link in the chain of ance of the disease as an epidemic, frequently ap- not at the same time exposed to the koino- causation? Nothing. When we say that the pears doubtful, owing to the wind dispersing the miasma, may be seized with fever, but this cause, or one of the causes, of influenza is miasm, the quantity of which is yet inconsiderable. will be typhus; and all this is according to an insensible quality of the atmosphere, But the poison, multiplying from day to day, slowly the laws of infection. By attending a case we say only that the cause of influenza extends over a larger space, entering the houses, of typhus, he may in the same manner be- is something of which we know nothing. As the season advances, the pestilential soil be- come affected by idio-miasma, which, as It is an acknowledgment of ignorance, with comes more and more prolific of the poison, and before, produces typhus; and this agrees a circumstance, or a concealing of it under when at length its exhalation is no longer increas with the same laws of infection. But it is a periphrasis. When our author states that ed, the epidemic soon rises to its height. also a case in which one fever produces by the prevalence of a severe epidemic is preits effluvia another similar fever, which is ceded by unusual severity of the common almost the definition of contagion, and in-disorders of the season, he gives us data on deed, is all that many contagionists contend which to found precautionary calculations. for. The difference, according to Dr Smith, When he infers that these facts intimate the is, that contagion is a secretion, which loses presence of epidemic meteoration, does he its specific power by decomposition, as is do any more? Can we remove or correct well known to be the case with the vario- this? Certainly not. We cannot tell whence lous and vaccine matter, while infection, it comes, or whither it goeth; we have or more strictly speaking, idio-miasma, is only an unnecessary and unmanageable adthe product of an excretion which acquires dition to our notions respecting epidemics, its activity from the very process by which which are already quite troublesome enough. that of the former is lost. Whatever the When Dr S. suggests that this meteoration truth may be in this matter, one thing in may be electricity, we begin to find some relation to it is important, and is admitted on savour in the doctrine. This is something all hands, namely, that the sphere of activ- tangible. Let him procure an electrometer, ity of this effluvia of typhus is very circum- or if no known instrument of that kind will scribed, and in well ventilated apartments, answer, let him invent a new one, and watch the danger of receiving a severe disorder it ten or twenty years, as Van Swieten did from this cause alone, is very inconsid- his thermometer and barometer; let him erable. put his notion to the test of experiment, and he will be usefully employed. But, against insensible qualities we enter our protest. For our own part, we cannot help thinking that the sensible qualities of the atmosphere have a greater share in the circumstances of epidemics than has been allowed them. The connexion is obscure, and, perhaps, never may be satisfactorily explained,-probably from the complication of the subject. A native of a northern climate becomes, by the operation of that climate, prepared to suffer severely by the epidemics of the south; why may not a series of years predispose a whole city or district to the effectual operation of agents,

In accounting for the extension of yellow fever, it is important to observe, that the quantity of Per koino miasma daily augments, and that the principal canse of its not spreading rapidly with effect, is its dispersion in the atmosphere. The poison in a dilute state is, no doubt, always considerably in advance of the place in which it is sufficiently concentrated to produce disease; and although that portion of the miasm which is diffused through the streets of an infected district, may frequently be scattered by the wind so as to render them comparatively safe to passengers, yet as the poison has possession of enclosures and ranges of buildings, and is constantly emanating from its source, they soon become again pestilential in a calm state of the atmosphere. Moreover, it is probable that the miasm is condensed with the dews, and partially absorbed by the soil, from which it is exhaled during the heat of the day. This idea is the more plausible, seeing there is reason to believe that the specific gravity of Perkoino miasma is greater than that of asmospheric air, and that its elevation above the surface of the earth is never considerable. It is an old observation that the occupants of the upper stories of houses are less exposed to the ravages of pestilence than those who reside on the ground floors.

Thus far we have been gratified with this work, and pleased with the clearness and ingenuity of its author; and, though we Another circumstance is important in the are not yet prepared to subscribe to all his history of this pernicious effluvia, which is, notions, we acknowledge that they are genthat it adheres to clothes, vessels, &c., and erally plausible, and often satisfactory. It is thus imported from situations where it is with regret, therefore, that we express prevails, to others which were before the opinion, that in nearly all which relates healthy. But the effects of this importa- to his third order, or meteoration, Dr Smith tion, which were for some time matter of has lost his labour. He divides this order triumph to the contagionists, and of trouble into two genera, the first comprising the to their opponents, are, in reality, such as sensible qualities of the atmosphere, or senconfirm the argument of the latter; for,sible meteoration, and the second the insenthough communication with such vessels, sible ones; and this is insensible or epidemic or their contents, is often fatal to those who meteoration. He makes very few remarks

which, without such predisposition, would be 4 P. M. passed the light-house, bringing the
harmless? One word more with epidemic me- wind with us for the benefit of several ves-
teoration and we are done with it for the pre- sels, which had started before us, and were
sent. The author, like many of the invent- then becalmed in the outer harbour. The
ors or defenders of gratuitous hypotheses, first week brought us to the Grand Banks.
endeavours to draw a parallel between his A few evenings after we left Boston, I
favourite agent and gravity, of which, says noticed a phenomenon, which was quite
he, we know nothing. Tell me, is the im- new to me, though Capt. M. says it is com-
plied language in this case, what gravity is, mon enough. Just after the sun had set,
and I will tell you what meteoration is. To there appeared, diverging from the place
which we reply, that gravity, as far as we which he might be supposed to have reach-
know, is nothing but a quality or a tenden- ed, a number of blue rays, stretching
cy of all bodies to approach each other; across the red ground, and producing a
the reality of which every one perceives very beautiful effect. During the second
and admits; while meteoration is a quality week our progress was inconsiderable, the
of the atmosphere, by which it influences wind being generally easterly, or light,
or produces epidemics, in a manner which and often we were entirely becalmed. On
its nature prevents our perceiving, and the Monday of the third week a fine breeze
which we are by no means willing to admit. sprung up, and we had as much as we could
Our limits will not permit us to make fly under with close reefed topsails and
many observations upon the second part of foresail. It did not, however, continue
this volume. It is generally interesting, long so furious, but soon reduced itself to a
and, excepting those portions which imply fresh breeze, either directly aft, or two or
the admission of the insensible qualities, ju- three points on either quarter, to which we
dicious. It is composed with care, and at could carry our smallest sails. From this
the expense, apparently, of much industri- moment the voyage was delightful. The
ous reading. Dr Smith supposes, while brig was a superb sailor, and to do our Cap-
treating this part of this subject, that the tain justice, he never wasted a puff of wind.
diseases which are propagated by specific Away we went merrily, with top-gallant,
contagion, as small-pox, measles, &c., may topmast and lower steering sails, royals, and
sometimes originate from the effects of the ringtail all full, and making the water
atmosphere upon the human frame. In this white all around us. One morning about
we cannot agree with him. The history of nine, we saw on the weather bow a large
these diseases will not warrant such a sup-ship, with all sail set, even more than we
position. In what manner they did, or may
originate, is, with one or two exceptions,
entirely unknown; and the analogy of these
would lead us to suspect that they were de-
rived from the brute creation.

had, and copper-bottomed, steering within
one point of the same course with our-
selves; about twelve, we spoke him (a John
Bull from Quebec), and about four hours
after left him just dipping beneath the hori-
We hope our remarks upon the subject zon on our lee quarter. We went by him,
of meteoration will not be offensive to Dr to use a sailor's hyperbole, as if he had
Smith. If he has erred in the manner we been lying at anchor. My fellow-passen-
suppose, his mistake is similar to that of gers were rather agreeable than other-
many eminent men in his profession. Stahl wise; one especially, P, a Scotch half-
had his Archeus, Darwin his Spirit of ani- pay lieutenant, afforded great amusement
mation, and Hoffman and Cullen their ner- by his stories of dukes, duchesses, princes,
vous energies and vis medicatrix. "There etc. Dwould have reverenced this
must be a tub," said the learned and amia-man for his familiarity with Shakspeare.
ble Cullen in conversing on this subject, His memory was really astonishing; he
"to amuse the whole." Philosophers will spouted from Burke, Pitt, Douglass, Dr
clasp shadows sometimes, instead of sub- Syntax, Homer, Milton, Thomson, and
stances, and occasionally stumble on the Burns; enacted the Gentle Shepherd, and
latter in the pursuit of the former. We sung Scotch songs. Besides all this, we
assure our author that we have derived much had a few books on board, suited to our
pleasure, and some instruction, from his different tastes, such as Thomson, Pliny,
book, and that whenever he writes another, Riley's Narrative, Guthrie's Grammar, and
we will gladly read and review it, provided the Description of Boston. Our other re-
he will allow us to qualify the praise which sources were a backgammon-board, a rub-
we have no doubt his works will always de- ber of whist after dinner, and an extem-
serve, with a seasoning of disapprobation poraneous set of chessmen. Thus flew the
and ridicule of any opinion which we may hours, and the favouring Zephyr was so well
think a fit subject for it.
pleased with our company that he took
passage with us for dear Ireland; seated
himself fairly on the taffrail for the rest of
the voyage, and "blew a gallant blast."
On Sunday evening, twenty-one days after
we left Boston, we had, by reckoning, past
Cape Clear, but having run too far to the
southward, were not able to make it. The
deep sea-line being also a very shallow sea-
line, we could not get bottom, though the
water was quite green. In these circumstan-
ces Capt. M thought it imprudent to

MISCELLANY.

LETTERS FROM A TRAVELLER.
No. I.

Dublin Bay, Sept. 8th, 18-. MY DEAR FRIENDS-Soon after you left us on the morning of the 15th, we were under way with a light breeze, and about

217

run longer than till twelve at night, and ac-
cordingly, though we had a fine wind, hove
to till five in the morning; and then made
sail again. At six we spoke a noble vessel,
one of the packets from Liverpool to New
York, and made an attempt to send you a
letter, but in vain; it fell into the hands of
Nep's postmaster-general, who doubtless
made very little ceremony with the wafer.
About ten o'clock we came in sight of the
first land we had seen for three weeks,-
the highlands of Dungarvon in the county
of Waterford; and as the wind continued
from the northwest, run close in with the
shore, and coasted along all day with a
light breeze. You can hardly conceive
any thing more delightful. The weather
was clear and mild, and the appearance
of green Erin most beautiful. We had
at once exchanged the wild, dreary, and
tumbling expanse of ocean, bounded with
one eternally monotonous circle of sky, for
a smooth channel, edged with lofty hills or
plains, and declivities gilded with wheat-
fields, and diversified with villages, ham-
lets, light-houses, and other monuments of
human industry; above us a bright sun,
blue sky variegated with cottony clouds;
behind, a gentle breeze wafting us along,
changing the prospect every instant, and
refreshing the eye and soul with continued
variety, "ever changing, ever new.” Such
a day was sufficient to pay one for a long-
er voyage over the Atlantic, than ours has
been. Some of us were of opinion, that
if this state of things continued, it would
matter little whether we reached Dublin
for a month; but Capt. M- was other-
wise minded: "de gustibus non." His
taste for the picturesque has not probably
been much cultivated. During the day we
passed the villages of Dungarvon and
Waterford, and about sunset were up with
the Saltee islands and Tusker rock. F-
will recollect the gale of wind in which
we passed this rock before, and I am sure,
if he has forgotten it, I have not. I con-
trasted our sail this day, with that by the
same places ten years ago, and the differ-
ence was far enough from being trifling.
The following morning the scene was again
beautiful beyond description. The sun, as
he rose, gilded the clouds above and the
Wicklow mountains opposite him;

"The kindling azure and the mountain's brow." The water was just rippled with the favouring breeze, the land on the west spangled with villages and spires, and painted in chequers with fields of grain, and all softtened, veiled but not hid, by a thin, blue mantle of haze. The clouds above blue, fringed with gold as the sun's rays glanced on their borders;-before us in the distance the hill of Hoth and the entrance to Dublin bay; on the right, two vessels in full sail; one tall hill on the Welsh side of the channel, and the horizon to the southwest completed the prospect. Before long it became quite calm, and we amused ourselves by catching a small fish called here gurnets. About noon the wind sprung up again and a pilot-boat came along side, manned with a crew which beggars all description

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